Valve-stem guide



Dec. 9, 1930. w. 1.. ACKLEY VALVE STEM GUIDE" Filed June 16, 1928 I NVEN TOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWILLIAM LANING ACKLEY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSTGNOB OF FIFTY-ONE PER CENTTO DALLAS TAILOBS SUPPLY COMPANY INCOIEPORATED, OF DALLAS, TEXASVALVE-STEM GUIDE A Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to valves and especially that type of valvedesigned for use in connection with steam pressing machines and adaptedto control the vacuum feed on such machines, and the invention has forits principal object, the provision of a novel and improved stem guidefor valves of this character and purpose. Y

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a valvebody so constructed as to meet with the requirements of said valve stemguide as regards the latters attachment thereto, to perform thenecessary function of constraining the said stem to move in a positivelyvertical plane. v

Still further, the invention aims among its objectsto provide a valvestem guide of economical construction which will minimize leakageresulting through constant and excessive wear upon the valve, valve stemand seat by reason of non-uniform movements of the stem, said guidebeing adapted to move the valve stem uniformly without variance fromthe'vertical plane, thus materially reducing the lateral strain andconsequent Wear upon the stem and associated parts.

lVith the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particularreference to its salient features of construction and assembly of partsby which these, as well as other lesser obJects are obtained and whichwill become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents afragmentary front elevational view of a clothes press suggesting one useoftheinvention.

Figure 2 is a front view of a valve and stem guide constructed accordingto the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view in vertical cross-section showingthe vertical displacement of the valve, and co-ordinativemovement of thevalve stem guide, and

Figure 4 is a detail side elevational view of the improved valve stemguide, suggesting in broken lines, its movement in operation.

In continuing now more in detail with the description of the inventionand its various parts as exemplified in the attached drawings,

1928. Serialll'o. 285,926.

the valve and its seat. Usually, the type of valve used for thispurpose'is the push-rod type and without any provisions for uniformlymoving the valve stem. Ordinarily, a small disc is provided which simplyabuts the protruding end of the stem, and when, through constant use,disalinement occurs, the valve stem is subjected to excessive strainwhich ultimately brings about leakage in the valve seat. By moving thevalve stem always in a positive vertical plane as provided for in thepresent invention, only normal and expected wear results, consequentlyprolonging the useful-ness and effectiveness of the valve and itsessentialparts.

Accordingl ,the character 1 designates the pressing mac ine upon whichthe invention is especially used, shown only to illustrate the relativeposition of the valve and guide when operatively applied.

The valve bodyQ has integral therewith a projection3, as especiallyshown in Figure 3, which projection has a bearing opening 4 therein atright angles with respect to the valve body 2. The interior mechanism ofthe valve is of conventional nature and is not herein claimed as novelbut is herein illustrated to show the action imparted thereto by theguide to be hereinafter described.

The stem 5 protrudes through thepacking 1 6, downward through'thepacking gland7, and upward movement thereof displaces the valve disc 8in the manner indicated in broken lines in Figure 3 to open the centralpassage 9 and upon relieving pressure against the stem 5,, the innerspring 10 returns the disc 8 to normal closed position.

It has been found that the greatest wear in the assembly takes place inthe gland 7, causing the packing 6 to wear, thus creatinga leak. It isof course possible to replace the packing and the gland and provide anew stein, without the necessity of replacing the entire valve, but ithas been found to be more effective and economical to provide guidemeans to eliminate excessive wear upon the stem and associated parts.

A lever 11 straddles the projection 3 integral with the valve body 2 anda pin 12 holds the same in pivotal relationship with the body. Thislever aflords a hanger for the guide, which latter is in the form of aU- shaped stirrup 13 and a similarly shaped outer bracket 14 which mayor may not be integral with the stirrup but preferably rigid therewith.As exemplified in Figure 3, a recess 15 is made in the horizontalportion of the stirrup for the reception of the end of the valve stem 5.

The bifurcated ends of the stirrup 13, where they oin the ends of thebracket 14 are pivotally connected to the free ends of the lever 11, inthe manner shown in Figures 2 and 4, by bolts 16 and the lever beingpivoted by pin 12 to the projection 3 of the body, is capable ofmovement as the guide assembly is moved upwardly toward the body of thevalve.

Usually, upward movement of the valve stem is caused by a foot pedal,not shown, but located at a point near the base of the machineaccessible to the foot, and from this pedal, protrudes the push rod 17,or generally known as the vacuum valve rod when the valve is so applied.This rod 17 is secure by nuts 18 to the cross bar of the stirrup brace14, although this manner of securing the rod may be altered if required.

It is apparent that the guide, consisting of the stirrup 18 and brace14, upon being urged upwardl by the push rod 17 will urge the stem 5upward against the resistance of spring 10 to open the valve, and anytendency of the elements 13 and 14 to deviate from a positive verticalplane during such movement will be prevented by the lever 11, whichlatter in pivoting during the upward movement of the elements 13 and 14carries the said elements on a straight, vertical line, in alinementwith the valve stem 5.

The obvious result in constraining the guide elements 13 and 14 to somove vertically is that every movement of the stem 5 1n opening andclosing the valve will be positively uniform and will thus prevent wearwhich would otherwise prematurely impair the parts.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable ofconsiderable modification, and such modification as is in keeping withthe appended claims, is also considered within the spirit of theinvention.

\Vhat is claimed is i 1. A valve stem guide including a U- shapedelement embracing the end of said stem and constrained to travel in astrict plane with the latter. the constraining means comprising a leverpivotally joined to said guide andfifulcrumed to the body of said valveat a point oifset with respect to the line of travel of said guide.

2. A valve stem guide including in combination with the valve, aU-shaped element embracing the end of said stem, the arms of whichextend well above the end of said stem and constrained to travel inpositive alinement with said valve stem, the constraining meanscomprising a lever arranged for pivotal movement on a fulcrum slightlyoffset with respect to the line of travel of said guide and having itsfree end pivotally connected to the arms of said U-shaped element.

3. A valve stem guide including in combination with a valve, a memberembracing the end of said stem and having arms eX- tending in thedirection of the body of said valve, and means pivotally connected tothe valve body for constraining said guide member to move strictly in avertical plane with said stem.

4. A valve stem guide including in combination with a valve, a memberrecessed for the reception of said stem and having arms extendingparallel with respect to said stem, and means pivotally connected tosaid arms and to the body of said valve for constraining said guidemember to move in a strictly vertical plane.

5. A valve stem guide including in combination with a valve, a guidemember embracing the end of said stem, a brace member rigid with respectto said guide member and having means for the reception of a valve pushrod; said guide and brace members adapted to be moved upward by saidpush rod to actuate said stem, and means connected to said body forpositively holding said members against lateral displacement during saidmovement to guide said stem.

6. A valve stem guide including a member embracing the end of said stemand having upwardly extending arms; and means pivotally joined to thevalvebody and to said arms to constrain said member to move in astrictly vertical plane to so guide said stem.

7. A valve stem guide including an inner member recessed to receive theend of said stem and a rigid outer member for actuating said member andto which a valve push rod is connected, and means for constraining saidmembers to move in a vertical plane when said push rod is actuated.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM LANING ACKLEY.

